Dentist Could be Struck off After Not Washing Hands After Using the Toilet
A dentist could be struck off after apparently neglecting to wash his hands after using the toilet.
A hearing was told that Steve Prichard, of Prichard Dental Practice in Coventry, also neglected to wash his hands in between clients or wear gloves when treating patients. It is claimed that he declined to wear a fresh pair of gloves offered by a dental nurse.
Prichard is also accused of using washing up liquid to wash his hands before performing procedures, not wearing a surgical mask and using the same towel to wipe his hands. One of his dental nurses (referred to as nurse G) said that though she didn’t see Prichard refilling the soap dispensers with washing up liquid, she was able to smell that it wasn’t hand wash.
Nurse G informed the panel that Prichard would visit the supermarket and bring in numerous bottles of washing up liquid at a time. She went on to say that he also put tools back into the sterilisation unit after use, along with other unused equipment.
She said that he would sometime place them back into the rack or on the work surface, but usually back into the rack.
In addition, claims have also been made that Prichard did not diagnose dental cavities and charged excessive fees to three of his clients.
Prichard is not in attendance at the hearing, but could face being struck off if his fitness to practice is ruled impaired by reason of misconduct.
The hearing is still in process.
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